Corner View: Spring

Spring is just now coming alive in my corner

with the nurseries in the area putting the welcome sign out

soon to be overflowing flower baskets (my favorite garden center Hawthorn Gardens)

and window flower boxes.







Little homes are being revealed

that were warm and safe places

from the long cold winter months of yesterday

And wee little ones being born

If you would like to see more views of spring in different corners, spring on over to our corner view friends (list on the side bar).


My friends may the sun also shine within you today!

Hugs,
Joyce
xo

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows the poem.

~Rainer Maria Rilke~

Dear St. Francis...

Watch over and protect

for safe keeping

while I enjoy one of my many blessings

Enjoy your golden day!

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

Gratitude is always the right attitude

Happy Friday: I Have A New Friend

Thanks to my friend Catherine I now have a new gal pal, meet MOROCCANOIL. A couple of weeks ago you might remember my breakfast with Catherine

During our visit, I asked how she manages to keep her hair so shiny and beautiful. She was kind enough to share her secrets and one was this wonderful moroccanoil. You only need a little, but the results are amazing. Have you ever tried it? If you do get the chance to try this great oil, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

My golden friends enjoy your weekend and make it special!

Hugs,
Joyce
xo

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet

and the winds long to play with your hair"

~ Kahlil Gibran~

Corner View: Typical Architecture

My friend CJ and I happened to be in the city again this week. Thanks to Ramsay needing a couple of heads of hair to cut (by the way she passed with flying colors). While CJ was in the chair getting her haircut, my camera and I took a walk around the block.

I enjoy the beauty of the city and the excitement as much as I love living in the midst of nature and the peacefulness out our backdoor.

I admire the wonderful architecture of the older buildings and the detailed craftsmanship.

It is even fun to see how in the mix of the old a bit of contemporary is added

I fell in love with this row of homes and how each building has its own personality.

This building was one of my favorites. The details around the rooftop and the windows are truly amazing right down to the owl. Such talent and beauty to withstand the weather of Chicago.

Let your fingers do the walking and visit other beautiful architecture buildings around the world with our corner view friends (located on the sidebar).

Have a golden day my friends and may the beauty of art be within your reach.

Hugs,

Joyce

An architect should live as little in cities as a painter. Send him to our hills, and let him study there what nature understands by a buttress, and what by a dome.

~John Ruskin~

Clip, Snip And Cut

My friend CJ and I are off to the city again this morning. Her daughter Ramsay will be graded on our haircuts.

She is in the styling program at Trio Salon. Ramsay holds the world's scissor in completing the program less than 12 months.

I know we are going to get an A+ on our haircuts. Hmmm.... I wonder if I will be able to sweet talk Ramsay to be my permanent houseguest.

Have a golden day my friends!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

P.S. The photos above are of CJ .

Socks Of Many Colors

Ding Dong... rang the doorbell. There stood Dan the mailman with a grin on his face and a treasure in his hands.

It was my lucky day. Inside the package was a lovely note and these beautiful knitted socks! They were knitted by my dear friend Ina's mom! Anne came home last week, after a very long ordeal with a knee replacement that had to be redone. Ina and her mom have the biggest hearts that stretch from Alaska to New Jersey. Anne doesn't have a blog because she is busy knitting, but Ina does. Ina shares her life in Alaska with her husband Ron, champagne Thursdays with neighbor friend Joan, her 3 adorable rescued pups Ginger, Toby, Jeter and recently her mom's dog Halle calls Alaska home.

My dear friends I hope your weekend, is warm, colorful and golden!


Hugs,
Joyce
xo

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

~Ancient Chinese Proverb~

Corner View: Front Door

Welcome My Friends! Today's is not only corner view day, but St. Patrick's Day. With green playing a big part here in the Chicago area, and today's theme "front door". Why not show a green door (not our door)?

I took several photos of doors while I was in the city (Chicago) this week. OK maybe more like 19! Shhh... just don't tell my friend CJ that I only have one door posted here.

With the love of green and little leprechauns today, there is also another celebration

for one special friend who happens to not only love green, but has a heart of gold. Happy Birthday Patricia!

I have shared this beautiful illustration before, created by my sweet friend Debra of our door, but it is perfect for today's theme and celebration color. I love when our doorbell rings, with a smile on the other side, and a friend or two singing with a tambourine.

Don't be shy, ring the door bell of our friends (cv list on the sidebar), Patricia and Debra. I'm sure they will welcome you with open arms and a warm or cold beverage.

May the luck of the Irish be at door today!

Hugs,

Joyce

xo

A wish for a friend

Wishing you a rainbow

For sunlight after showers~

Miles and miles of Irish smiles

For golden happy hours~

Shamrocks at your doorway

For luck and laughter too,

And a host of friends that never ends

Each day your whole life through.

Can You Spare A Nut Or Two?

This little guy was hungry, I couldn't help but toss him a handful of nuts.

I like how the reflection of the patio door is in his eyes.

It could be my imagination, but this year the squirrels and birds seem more hungrier. We were at a food drive-thru yesterday, so I could get an ice tea, when above and in the parking lot were a few white birds, they looked like sea gulls. I'm not sure if they really were since there wasn't any water except for the rain puddles. They were screeching a loud cry as if they were hungry. Yes I asked my love to pull over so I could go in and get some bread. Shhh... I think the cries even got to him too, because he helped toss some bread their way. Once we tossed a few pieces they were happy and flew away.

Have a golden day my friends!
Hugs,

Joyce
xo

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread"

~Proverbs~

Happy Friday: You Say Mimosa, I Say Pomosa

A perfect way to start the weekend, sharing breakfast with a friend and a glass or two of Pomosa!

Hiding behind our Pomosa is my friend Catherine. Remember her from here. Shhh... she just got online and I'm hoping soon she will be starting her own blog.

I came across this easy recipe for you to share with a friend this weekend.

Pomosa
Serving 2 (you can double, triple the recipe to your liking)

Ingredients
1 cup brut champagne
1/4 cup bottle pomegranate juice
2 teaspoon pomegranate seeds, optional
Directions
Pour 1/2 cup of champagne into each flute, adding 2 tablespoons of pomegranate juice to each glass. Garnish with a 1 teaspoon of pomegranate seeds per glass.

Have a golden weekend my friend!

Hugs,
Joyce
xo

I wish you health, I wish you well and happiness galore

Corner View: Miniature Worlds

With this week's corner view theme being "miniature worlds" I thought it would be fun to share

some of my small treasures I have from the beach. The white shell is so tiny it is darn cute.

If you would like to take a visit to see other miniature things, visit our corner view friends (list located on the right side).

Big hugs to you my friends and golden wishes,
Joyce
xo

To see the earth as it truly is, small and blue in that eternal silence where it floats

~Archibald Macleish~

Sleepy Monday

I hope you had a great weekend my friends.

Yawn... I am a little sleepy today. I had a full weekend filled with friends, family and a paint brush in my hand (my love decided to tear up our master bath a bit), I think I need a nap.

Have a golden day!
Hugs,

Joyce
xo

Sleep lingers all our lifetime about our eyes,

as night hovers all day in the boughs of the fir tree

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Happy Friday!

Last weekend I started my birthday celebration with a wonderful virtual birthday party over at Deb's blog, Lifescapes . Deb thank you so much, it was a perfect celebration, with all of my favorite things!
While I went with my mom to pick up my birthday cake we sat for a cup of coffee and look what was peeking from under the tulips. A perfect blue butterfly! I didn't notice this little guy until we sat down. Our table was the only one with a butterfly. Can you believe it? I like to think it was my special butterfly from above sending me wishes.
As some of you might remember I love to pass out birthday treats throughout the day. This year I filled little cotton bags (yes, that is me on my first birthday) with gold coins and some had bubble gum balls.
My birthday cake not only looked beautiful it was worth every calorie!

Even though I wanted to keep this birthday low key, the fiesta as Gary loves to call my birthday will continue this weekend with breakfast and dinners with friends.

What do you have planned for the weekend? Whatever you have planned, I hope your weekend is a golden celebration my friends!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

"The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The meaning of life is giving your gift away"

~David Viscott~

Corner View: Coffee Companion

Coffee companion is this week's corner view.

My favorite coffee companion is not the sugar, the sweetener, cream, or flavors that go into the cup

it is sharing it in the morning with my friends near


and far

and with my mom, now that she lives nearby.


Pop on over to share a cup with our corner view friends (list on the right side)




Have a golden day my friends!
Hugs,
Joyce
xo

"A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent"

~Author unknown~

Happiness Comes In Different Ways

Sometimes it falls right in front of my eyes, maybe touches my heart or simply lays hidden for me to discover.

The other day I visited my CASA (court appointed special advocate for abuse and neglected children). Due to confidentiality I will only show share their smiles and change the name of my boy to Sam for this post.

I enjoy my visits with Sam and always walk away with something I have learned or appreciate from him and his friends.

Throughout the years I have seen him grow from a young boy into a young man. He has developed close relationships not only with his peers at the home, but with two young men.

I have learned teenage boys will talk more when friends and food are around, so I have included Sam's two buddies in our visit and will bring pizza, soda and a chocolate chip cookie cake (their favorite).

I normally don't bring my camera on my visits, but I'm glad I did this last visit. I asked if I could take their photos and I would make copies (I am making a photobook as a surprise) for them to have as a keepsake. At this point one boy said, "I don't have any photos of myself, not even when I was younger, so this will be nice". We had fun as I was snapping photos of them laughing horsing around like teenage boys do.

Then I was hit with reality when one of the boys said he would be leaving the home next month, his time was up in the system. I fought hard not to have the ugly cry as I asked more and shared how I would miss him and that I'm not good at good byes. I watched as his eyes filled and he said no one has carried that much for him. I can't even image how some of the children of the system feel, not to be able to trust, to be moved from one place to another, not to have a place to call home or a family that loves them, only to become a certain age when the law says you are on your own. A lot of the kids are let go to take care of themselves at an age most of us still need our parents. Some children are lucky in the system to make it back home or be adopted. After many struggles and going to court with the help of my manager we were able to keep Sam in the sytem so he could at least graduate from high school.

Over the years it has taken me a while to figure out why he would act up and get himself in trouble. It wasn't because of a learning disability, he has a rather high IQ, it was because he was afraid to be on his own. Once we talked about it and he worked through this with his counselor. I'm proud to say he did graduate from high school and will attend the actual graduation ceremony this spring. I will be there wearing my proud as a peacock hat and a box of Kleenex.

Hugs don't come easy for these boys, but over the years our visits ends with a thank you and a hug from each one. As I left this visit with tears in my eyes, I promised Sam's friend I would make sure my next visit will be, before he leaves and would do my best to see if I could gather some things for his first apartment. Driving down the long driveway to the main road I looked out my rearview mirror and waved as I sent a special prayer up for "my" boys, gratitude for my parents, my life and all the things that make me happy.

It was ironic that I came home to see I was tagged by Cindy and Prairie Girl to list ten things that make me happy. The hardest part of this list was to list only ten.

• Hugs and laughter
• Endless "I love you" and being loved
• Calls, emails, texts and visits from my nieces, nephews and my CASA kids
• The sound of water and nature singing
• Birthday cakes
• Snow angels
• Back rubs
• Memories
• Dogs, dogs and dogs...
• A place to call home

At this point I am suppose to pass the crown to ten friends. Once again, it is hard for me to choose so I'm going to let you decide if you would like to play.

Have a happy golden day my friends!

Hugs,
Joyce
xo